I think I should decide whether it’s a big dam or a dam big country…
Today was a rest day (on the seventh day and all that)
I spent some time exploring Panora.
There’s a neat little historic village. The original railroad depot was moved down here when the railroad left in the 60s.
Here’s a glance through the luggage room door.
There’s a nice caboose (Milwaukee Line livery.)
The door is open and you can have look inside. This is the desk area.
On the west edge of town is the Raccoon River. There are two dams on the Raccoon near Panora. Most commonly known as the Big Dam and the Little Dam. With all of the trees in full leaf there is no way to get a look at the Big Dam except from a boat on the lake.
The Little Dam on the other hand is accessible from both sides of the river at the park.
My mother-in-law remembers playing there as a child and spending time ‘parking’ near the dam as a teenager. There was less water flowing over the dam then and it was common to drive a car out onto the dam and wash it.
The dam was originally built from logs. They’re still under there.
The last place I went was to the cemetery. Some of the graves date from the 1850’s.
Memorial day is next weekend and people are starting to tidy up and decorate the graves.
Much of my MIL’s family is buried here as are Jim’s grandparents.
Bonus Memorial Day link — from Aidair IA (down the road about 30 miles)
http://thefreedomrock.com/
The 11th annual version of a giant painted rock dedicated to US vets.
